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The experimental, unmanned ships the Navy is testing out of San Diego and other ports will become a large and crucial part of the fleet, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti said Monday at the West 2024 conference in San Diego.

Franchetti said it will take about 15 years to fully develop and test autonomous surface vessels, along with new aerial and undersea platforms, Defense One reported.

The robotic vehicles are meant to supplement the Navy’s manned warships, rather than replace them.

The Navy created an unmanned surface vessel program in 2022 in San Diego, where it has been testing such ships as USV Sea Hunter, considered a good platform for surveillance and reconnaissance, and possibly anti-submarine and anti-mine measures.

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